Internet Protocol security (IPsec) supports network-level peer authentication, data origin authentication, data integrity, data confidentiality (encryption), and replay protection. This service enforces IPsec policies created through the IP Security Policies snap-in or the command-line tool "netsh ipsec". If you stop this service, you may experience network connectivity issues if your policy requires that connections use IPsec. Also,remote management of Windows Firewall is not available when this service is stopped.
This service also exists in Windows 10, 11, 8, Vista and XP.
Windows 7 edition | without SP | SP1 |
---|---|---|
Starter | Manual | Manual |
Home Basic | Manual | Manual |
Home Premium | Manual | Manual |
Professional | Manual | Manual |
Ultimate | Manual | Manual |
Enterprise | Manual | Manual |
Display name: | IPsec Policy Agent |
Service name: | PolicyAgent |
Type: | share |
Path: | %WinDir%\system32\svchost.exe -k NetworkServiceNetworkRestricted |
File: | %WinDir%\System32\ipsecsvc.dll |
Error control: | normal |
Object: | NT Authority\NetworkService |
Privileges: |
|
The IPsec Policy Agent service runs as NT Authority\NetworkService in a shared process. It shares the executable file with other services. If the IPsec Policy Agent fails to load or initialize, the error is recorded into the Event Log. Windows 7 startup should proceed, but a message box is displayed informing you that the PolicyAgent service has failed to start.
IPsec Policy Agent will not start, if the following services are stopped or disabled:
1. Select your Windows 7 edition and Service Pack, and then click on the Download button below.
2. Save the RestoreIPsecPolicyAgentWindows7.bat file to any folder on your hard drive.
3. Right-click the downloaded batch file and select Run as administrator.
4. Restart the computer to save changes.
Note. Make sure that the ipsecsvc.dll
file exists in the %WinDir%\System32
folder. If this file is missing you can try to restore it from your Windows 7 installation media.